Jordan’s Investment Minister Tareq Abu Ghazaleh said the country is becoming a “safe gateway” for its neighbours and has demonstrated to investors that its economy is resilient.
Officials say a school roof collapsed in northwest Pakistan, killing and injuring dozens. More than 30 people were hurt, with six believed to be in critical condition.
An official said the roof of a private school in northwestern Pakistan collapsed, killing at least 17 students and a teacher. The headline reports at least 18 deaths and more than 30 injuries.
A school roof collapsed in Peshawar’s Afridi Abad area, killing at least 17 pupils and one teacher and injuring 12 others. Rescue workers cleared rubble and searched for survivors; the cause was not immediately known. Officials and local media say such collapses are becoming increasingly common in Pakistan.
A school roof collapsed in northwest Pakistan, killing a teacher and at least 17 children. Building collapses are common in the country, where construction standards are often poorly enforced.
A school roof collapsed in Peshawar, Pakistan, killing at least 17 students, all under 13, and one teacher, a local hospital spokesperson said on Thursday.
An article by international security analyst Pak Ju Won for the Korean Central News Agency says US support for Japan’s plan to acquire nuclear-powered submarines gives Tokyo the green light for nuclear armament. Pak argues that supporters in Japan ultimately aim to create conditions for acquiring nuclear weapons, as Tokyo considers revising its three core security documents.
A senior U.S. administration official told Axios that the White House had no role in restricting Starlink in Ukraine. Axios reported that the Trump administration plans to contact SpaceX for answers. Ukraine said limits on Starshield, Starlink’s military version, disrupted some missions. Elon Musk said U.S. authorities own and control Starshield, with usage limits decided by the military and ultimately the president. The White House has not officially commented.
Elon Musk suggested the US government could be behind limits on the speed of SpaceX satellite technology used by Ukraine’s military, which Kyiv says impede its use of key defensive weapons. Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Trump’s diesel deal and the restrictions left him feeling “betrayed.” EU leaders are expected to discuss Ukraine at talks in Brussels.
The Daily Telegraph reported that restrictions on Starlink in Ukraine have left a significant portion of the Ukrainian military’s drone arsenal unusable. Communications gaps of 10 to 20 seconds disrupted drone control and forced some missions to be canceled. The paper said a likely halt to intelligence sharing with Washington could further worsen Ukraine’s position.
Elon Musk said the US government, rather than SpaceX, controls any restrictions on Ukraine’s Starshield satellite system. Ukraine’s former defence minister urged the removal of speed limits to bolster the country’s defence.
Elon Musk said Wednesday that the US government made any decisions to restrict Ukraine’s use of Starshield. Ukrainian officials and US lawmakers had raised concerns about interrupted satellite communications and the consequences for Kyiv’s defence against Moscow.
Thoracic surgeon Diego González Rivas, based in A Coruña, Spain, developed Uniportal VATS, a minimally invasive procedure using a single incision. The technique was used in Pope Francis’ surgery.
Pope Francislung surgeryminimally invasive surgery
Illinois police say 19-year-old Alexandros Paporakis allegedly planned a mass shooting, possibly targeting a Hindu place of worship. Officers found a rifle, magazines, ammunition and protective gear at his home, along with material expressing white supremacist views. He faces felony charges of making a terrorist threat and possessing an unlawful weapon; the investigation continues.
The European Investment Bank is looking to expand cross-border investment in Central Asia, with projects required to meet environmental standards and benefit both regional economies and European industry.
European Investment BankCentral Asiacross-border investment
China’s National Marine Environmental Forecasting Center says the ongoing super El Niño is expected to affect the country through summer 2027. It is intensifying rapidly and is forecast to peak in November or December 2026; coastal sea temperatures are expected to remain generally above average this winter and through spring and summer 2027.
Western Australian police say a 43-year-old woman allegedly put snail pellets containing poisonous metaldehyde in a colleague’s curry at a workplace in Perth’s southern suburbs. The colleague’s tongue went numb after tasting a small amount. The accused faces one charge of an unlawful act or omission intended to harm.
Official data released Thursday showed Britain’s economy grew unexpectedly in August, giving Finance Minister John Healey a boost ahead of the Labour government’s budget update this month.
Official data showed Britain’s economy grew unexpectedly in August, extending a run of resilient figures. The data will encourage Finance Minister John Healey as he prepares a budget amid a tough financial backdrop.
Zelensky said Ukraine had held off on striking Russian refineries for three days to accommodate a U.S. request. After Russia continued attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, he lifted the restrictions. He said Ukraine would need more U.S.-made Patriot interceptors, at minimum, to halt strikes on Russian energy sites.
Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev said Volodymyr Zelensky’s meetings in London with what he called British “warmongers” were undermining peace efforts. Commenting on Zelensky’s statement that the pause on strikes against Russian oil refineries was over, Dmitriev accused the British of promoting war and undermining peace.
Heavy rain and widespread flooding brought Istanbul to a shutdown, leaving at least two people dead. The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality said some areas recorded their highest rainfall since 1985.
Torrential rain flooded hundreds of homes in Istanbul, caused roads to collapse and brought traffic close to a standstill. A 14-year-old boy died after being electrocuted in a puddle in the Balat area. Flooding also affected hospitals and businesses, while schools closed and authorities urged residents to avoid flood-prone areas.
Torrential rain has triggered flash floods across Istanbul, sweeping cars through neighbourhoods, stranding people and causing landslides. Traffic has ground to a halt, and more rain is expected.
The 47th World Congress of Vine and Wine and OIV General Assembly recently took place in Yinchuan alongside the China (Ningxia) International Wine Culture and Tourism Expo. It was the congress’s first session in Asia in its century-long history. The program included a blind wine-tasting contest, displays of Ningxia crafts, a Babao tea demonstration and folk performances.
wine congressNingxiatea cultureintangible cultural heritage
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on Thursday that Sweden will reject the proposal put forward by Ireland’s EU presidency for the European Commission’s 2028-2034 budget plan.
Moscow says Russia’s Pacific Fleet test-fired cruise missiles from a nuclear-powered submarine, hitting a target 1,200km away. The drills come amid tensions with Japan, which protested Russian military exercises near the disputed Kuril Islands in August.
The Russian Pacific Fleet’s Novosibirsk nuclear-powered submarine fired Oniks and Kalibr cruise missiles at sea and coastal targets near Kamchatka during exercises. Oniks struck a simulated enemy ship more than 170 kilometers away, while Kalibr hit its target at the Kura testing ground after traveling more than 1,200 kilometers.
Best-selling author Sally Rooney is being forced to withdraw her books from sale in the UK because she supports Palestine Action. Her books include “Conversations With Friends” and “Normal People.”
CK Hutchison Holdings told China News Service on Thursday that online claims Hong Kong business tycoon Li Ka-shing had died were “absolutely untrue.” The rumors circulated online that day and drew widespread attention.
Ryazan Governor Pavel Malkov said Ukrainian drones struck the region’s oil refinery and started a fire; a warehouse and vehicles at another facility were also damaged. He reported no casualties. The attack prompted class cancellations on October 15 in parts of the city, affecting 14 schools and 25 kindergartens. Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine had resumed strikes on Russian oil refineries.
The documentary follows social and economic transformation in Bumburet, Chitral, Pakistan, focusing on the Kalash community’s lives, culture and challenges. It shows how development initiatives have improved living conditions while helping preserve the community’s distinctive identity and traditions.
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te called on Micron Technology and its workers on Thursday to negotiate sincerely, as the company’s union in Taiwan may go on strike.
Jake Bauers and Garrett Mitchell hit consecutive homers off Blake Snell in the seventh, powering Milwaukee to a 6-2 win over Los Angeles in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series and a 3-0 series lead.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas says Ukraine’s strikes on Russian refineries are legitimate. Kyiv says it will resume them despite Trump’s energy ceasefire.
Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine would resume attacks on Russian oil refineries after pausing strikes on Russian energy facilities for three days at the United States’ request. He said Moscow continued hitting Ukrainian energy infrastructure, and that Washington had threatened to withhold intelligence if Kyiv kept attacking refineries. Zelensky said he might suspend the strikes in exchange for more Patriot missiles.
US entrepreneur Elon Musk called Ukraine’s position on the diesel deal between Moscow and Washington “troubling” while responding to a post by US blogger Mike Cernovich, who accused Ukraine of ingratitude for American aid. Cernovich said Trump wanted diesel prices to fall by a dollar or two before the midterms. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine was losing a major US partner.
Russian business ombudsman Alexander Shokhin said the Russia-US diesel supply deal could offer a precedent for suspending or lifting sanctions if Washington sees economic and political benefits. He said EU automakers are surviving only by making weapons and suggested the Trump administration’s pragmatism could spread.
Russia-US relationsdiesel suppliessanctionsautomotive industry
The article argues that AI is reshaping society and that technology restrictions and bloc confrontation hinder innovation and global governance. Because AI-related risks can cross borders, it says major powers such as China and the United States should cooperate through dialogue on shared rules and safeguards.
A court in Meerut sentenced Muskan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla to death for murdering Rastogi’s husband, Saurabh Rajput. The case became known as the “blue drum murder” after Rajput’s body was found in a large blue plastic container. The sentences require high court confirmation, and the pair can appeal.
Kenya raised maximum retail prices for petrol and diesel on Wednesday, with the energy regulator citing higher import costs linked to the conflict in the Middle East.
The Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board’s proposal for uniform Friday sermons in mosques across Indian-administered Kashmir has drawn criticism from politicians and religious leaders. They accuse Modi’s government of seeking control over Muslim religious spaces and curbing freedom of religion and expression.
Timekeepers are meeting near Paris on Thursday to debate whether to abolish the leap second by 2027. Added periodically to Coordinated Universal Time since 1972 to keep clocks aligned with Earth’s rotation, leap seconds have created difficulties for financial markets, data centres and other systems requiring precise timing. The meeting will also consider proposals on how a second is defined.
Clock ticking for leap second: Why timekeeping could change forever
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Twenty-one pupils and a teacher were killed on Thursday after a roof collapsed at a school in the northwest Pakistani city of Peshawar, a hospital official says.
Asim Khan from Lady Reading Hospital confirmed the toll to AFP, adding that over 30 people were injured, with six believed to be critical
Twenty-one pupils and a teacher were killed on Thursday after a roof collapsed at a school in the northwest Pakistani city of Peshawar, a hospital official says.
Asim Khan from Lady Reading Hospital confirmed the toll to AFP, adding that over 30 people were injured, with six believed to be critical
More than 170 figures from France’s film industry warn that the 2027 budget could have a severe impact. They fear hundreds of films could disappear if measures such as doubling VAT on Canal+ pay-TV offers are approved.
At the start of Thursday’s main session, the MOEX and RTS indices gained 0.06% to 2,422.92 and 909.2 points, respectively. Both later slipped, while the yuan-ruble exchange rate also fluctuated during morning trading.
Romania’s Social Democrats said they would join Prime Minister-designate Luca Niculescu’s government, while other parties pledged to support it in the vote. The backing brings the country closer to ending a political crisis that has weighed on its investment-grade rating.
Russia’s Federal Security Service said it detained a Swedish national in the Pskov Region for illegally crossing the border. The FSB said he had fought alongside Kyiv and entered Russia under the pretext of joining the Russian Armed Forces, intending to carry out sabotage and terrorist attacks on military facilities.
The Longjin ancient irrigation system in Zhangzhou, Fujian, has been added to the 2026 World Heritage Irrigation Structures list, becoming the first site in southern Fujian to receive the designation. The system, more than 800 years old, still provides irrigation, drainage and flood control.
Sugar beet harvesting is underway across major growing areas of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, where mechanization is improving efficiency and crop quality. About 7,893 hectares in one division are ready for harvest, which began mechanically on Sept. 26. The Corps has expanded support across the production and processing chain to modernize the industry.
The governor of Ukraine’s central Kirovohrad region said it suffered the largest Russian attack on its territory during the war overnight, leaving three people dead and six wounded.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas spoke exclusively to Euronews ahead of a European summit in Brussels. Leaders are set to discuss surging energy prices, the bloc’s long-term budget and support for Ukraine after Donald Trump’s latest pressure campaign.
European UnionKaja KallasRussian diesel dealUkraine
As climate change brings more frequent and severe floods, some villages in Thailand are bearing the costs of protecting Bangkok. Could cities in Europe face similarly difficult choices?
Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele says officials will review cases of people detained under the state of emergency and consider monitored, conditional early release for as many as half. Human rights groups say the measure has fueled widespread arbitrary arrests, while Bukele defends it as necessary to curb gang violence.
El SalvadorNayib Bukeleearly releasegang crackdown
Bukele unveils plan that could free up to half of prisoners detained in gang crackdown
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Thai villages flooded to protect capital.
For the sixth monsoon season in a row, floodwaters have submerged Kamonchanok Sathaphonamonwut’s home in Thailand’s Ayutthaya province, where residents say they are paying the price for efforts to keep Bangkok and other areas dry
Thai villages flooded to protect capital.
For the sixth monsoon season in a row, floodwaters have submerged Kamonchanok Sathaphonamonwut’s home in Thailand’s Ayutthaya province, where residents say they are paying the price for efforts to keep Bangkok and other areas dry
China and the DPRK jointly held an opening ceremony on Thursday as the new Yalu River bridge began carrying traffic. It links Dandong in China’s Liaoning Province with Sinuiju in North Pyongan Province and has four lanes across a 28.5-meter-wide deck.
China-DPRK tiesYalu River bridgecross-border transport
The New Yalu River Bridge, linking Dandong in China with Sinuiju in North Korea, has opened, Chinese state media report. It is expected to become the main land route for trade between the neighbours as their economic ties improve; the opening had originally been planned for 2014.
China–North Korea relationsNew Yalu River Bridgetrade
The new bridge linking China and North Korea across the Yalu River opened to traffic on Thursday, with the two sides holding a joint ceremony. The infrastructure project is expected to boost trade and people-to-people exchanges between the countries.
China–North Korea relationsYalu River Bridgecross-border transport
A new four-lane bridge between China and North Korea has opened after a decade of delays. The opening follows the launch of a road bridge between North Korea and Russia about a month ago, part of efforts to strengthen their ties.
China and North Korea formally marked the opening of a major land crossing on Thursday, seeking to revive trade and commerce after years of strained ties and pandemic-related disruption to cross-border exchanges.
China–North Korea relationsborder tradebridge opening
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said a new bridge over the Yalu River, which forms the border between China and North Korea, will make trade and people-to-people exchanges easier. Agreed by both sides, it is due to open to traffic on Thursday, with a joint ceremony planned that day.
China-North Korea relationsYalu River bridgetradepeople-to-people exchanges
Australia’s Defence Department says an Australian Defence Force member is a person of interest after a video recording device was found in a bathroom aboard HMAS Leeuwin in Cairns. Navy chief Matt Buckley called it an act of sexual violence and said bathrooms across the fleet are being audited. The member is assisting the Joint Military Police Unit’s investigation.
Australian Defence ForceRoyal Australian Navyhidden camerainvestigation
India’s yearly wind power installations are expected to more than double by 2030 as the country intensifies efforts to meet climate goals and ensure round-the-clock electricity supplies, according to a leading turbine maker.
China Asset Management (Hong Kong) and Qatar’s Lesha Bank agreed on Wednesday to launch Qatar’s first sharia-compliant China equity fund. The move reflects Chinese financial institutions’ growing efforts to attract Middle East capital as institutional investors and wealthy families seek safe havens amid geopolitical turmoil. Mainland China’s rising AI capabilities and biotech are among the markets’ selling points.
China equity fundMiddle East capitalIslamic financeHong Kong stocks
SSouth China Morning PostOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-10-15 07:00
Hong Kong firm and Qatar bank to launch China equity fund to attract Middle East capital
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told Euronews that Russia misjudged the situation by trying to reach a deal with Washington alone. She said Europe would keep backing Ukraine and “pressure aggressor” Moscow.
The US is considering using the GBU-43/B “mother of all bombs” against Iran, CNN reported, citing sources. Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear facilities could be targeted if President Donald Trump orders hostilities to resume. The White House has asked the military to develop further strike plans; CNN said the bomb’s ability to achieve Trump’s strategic goals is questionable and its use would significantly escalate the conflict with Tehran.
The US is considering using the ‘Mother of All Bombs’ in possible future strikes on Iran, according to a report. The GPS-guided bomb can devastate a surface area about the size of nine city blocks but is not designed to penetrate deep underground.
United StatesIranMother of All Bombsmilitary strikes
The US military has drawn up plans that could involve using the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb against Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear sites if President Donald Trump orders combat operations to resume, CNN reported, citing US officials familiar with the matter.
United StatesIranmilitary strikesmother of all bombs
Russian presidential envoy and Russian Direct Investment Fund CEO Kirill Dmitriev said Elon Musk wants peace. Dmitriev was commenting on Musk’s post that it was high time for Volodymyr Zelensky to step down.
Israel’s October 27 election is being watched by African governments assessing its implications for foreign and domestic policy. The Gaza war has exposed divisions across the continent: South Africa has become a vocal critic of Israel, while Morocco continues to pursue closer ties. The next government’s position on Gaza and Palestinians could shape Israel’s efforts to maintain and expand partnerships in Africa.
The Three Gorges Reservoir stores water at the end of each flood season, then releases it gradually during the dry season and lowers its level ahead of the next flood season. The cycle supports shipping, water supplies, ecological needs and power generation in the Yangtze River basin through winter and the following spring.
Three Gorges ReservoirYangtze Riverwater management
The first swans have arrived in Rongcheng for the winter. One of Asia’s largest wintering habitats for whooper swans, the Rongcheng National Nature Reserve for Whooper Swans has prepared to help the birds spend the season safely.
TSMC, the world’s largest maker of advanced AI chips, is expected to report record earnings for a sixth consecutive quarter on Thursday, driven by surging technology-sector infrastructure spending.
EU leaders will meet in Brussels for two days to discuss curbing the bloc’s large trade deficit with China, rising energy prices and the 2028–2034 budget. Friday’s talks are also expected to address support for Ukraine, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy invited to attend.
EU leaders are about to begin a two-day summit in Brussels, with soaring energy prices, trade ties with China and the dispute over the bloc’s next long-term budget on the agenda.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas speaks exclusively with Maria Tadeo as EU leaders arrive in Brussels for a key summit focused on soaring energy prices, an unfinished seven-year budget and Donald Trump's pressure on Ukraine. The programme also interviews Jordanian Investment Minister Abu Abughazaleh.
EU leaders meet in Brussels on Thursday for a packed summit on ways to curb surging Chinese exports, which industry groups blame for factory closures, address high energy prices and bridge deep divisions over the bloc’s future budget.
Hôtellerie des Laquets, the highest hotel in France, has opened in the Pyrenees. It has 16 double rooms with panoramic views and a private cable car link to Pic du Midi.
Hundreds marched through Bangkok on Thursday, 15 October, opposing the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank taking place in the Thai capital.
BangkokprotestsInternational Monetary FundWorld Bank
IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva urged the world’s largest economies to tackle growing fiscal and trade imbalances. At the IMF and World Bank annual meetings in Bangkok, she warned that a new IMF report highlights the risks of postponing action on mounting debt and called for urgent policy reforms.
global debtInternational Monetary Fundfiscal policytrade imbalances
The EU is seeking a faster political response to sabotage, cyberattacks and drone incursions. Experts say a proposed Security Council could help, but only to a limited extent.
European UnionRussiahybrid attacksEuropean security
Ukraine’s General Staff said on Oct. 15 that Russian forces have suffered 1,559,230 casualties in Ukraine since the full-scale invasion began on Feb. 24, 2022, including 1,880 over the past day. It also reported losses of Russian military equipment. Ukraine has not disclosed its own losses, citing operational secrecy.
Russia-Ukraine warRussian casualtiesUkraine's General Staff
General Staff: Russia has lost 1,559,230 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
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BREAKING Sixteen pupils and a teacher were killed on Thursday after a roof collapsed at a school in the northwest Pakistani city of Peshawar, emergency services say
BREAKING Sixteen pupils and a teacher were killed on Thursday after a roof collapsed at a school in the northwest Pakistani city of Peshawar, emergency services say
At a campaign rally at Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport in Arizona, Donald Trump said the war with Iran would end “very soon” and predicted a sharp fall in oil prices.
An inquest heard that doctors recommended an involuntary mental health assessment for Kerrie Struhs because she believed God would cure her daughter’s type 1 diabetes. Child safety officials returned eight-year-old Elizabeth home in 2019 despite doctors’ objections. She died in 2022 after her father stopped giving her insulin.
Elizabeth Struhscoroner's inquestchild safetyreligious beliefs
Indonesia has attributed its worst wildfire season in 11 years to peatland damage linked to past food estates and pledged to restore the ecosystem, a senior official said Thursday. Thick haze continued to cover cities and drift into neighboring countries.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy is again clashing with the U.S. president, this time over his refusal to follow a White House order to halt bombing Russian oil refineries. The Kremlin and Donald Trump now say Zelenskyy is the main obstacle to peace, raising the question of whether Kyiv’s former comedian-turned-ruler has become one.
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